[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY'S CENTENNIAL YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 1999

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate San Francisco 
State University and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its 
founding. It has grown from a teacher training school in 1899 with a 
student body of 31, to its status today as a racially and ethnically 
diverse, major urban university serving more than 27,000 students. 
While San Francisco State University was founded on March 22, this year 
graduation will be held on May 29. As SFSU graduates its 100th class, 
I'd like to recognize their contributions during the last century.
  Throughout its first century, this University has led the way in 
providing accessible higher education for California's residents, 
promoting excellence in teaching and learning, embracing diversity, and 
creating community partnerships that enrich the cultural and economic 
life of the Bay Area, while strengthening the educational experience of 
our students.
  San Francisco State University should be commended for its many 
achievements including, making global headlines for discovering new 
planets outside our solar system; establishing the nation's first 
College of Ethnic Studies; creating the only academic research facility 
on the San Francisco Bay; building one of the nation's top two 
Conservation Genetics Laboratories; creating the largest multimedia 
studies program in the country; and housing nationally recognized 
biology, creative writing and journalism programs.
  SFSU should be proud of the linkages that its programs and quality 
faculty have built for sustained community involvement and partnership 
throughout its history. SFSU serves as a national model of a community-
engaged urban campus, housing more than 100 centers, institutes and 
other special programs and projects addressing such varied issues as 
the health of the San Francisco Bay; K-12 student math skills; and 
small business success and science skills for inner city youth 
throughout the state. The University has also sustained collaborative 
partnerships throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area, including the 
Valencia Health Clinic, Step to College, Community Science Workshops 
for California, the Vistiacion Valley Community Service Center, the 
Muir Alternative Teacher Education program, and the Community Outreach 
Partnership Center.
  San Francisco State is truly a model institution, making significant 
contributions in the Bay Area and beyond. They deserve to be 
congratulated for all their successes during the last 100 years and we 
wish them the best for the next century.